Sounds of the unseen was a multifaceted social event which took place on March 14, 2014 at ABF Huset in Stockholm, Sweden and explored the sonification of the unseen.

Scientists often work with exploring and understanding that which is too small or even invisible to perceive with the naked eye. Artists and musicians are skilled at translating that which is intangible or invisible into a memorable human experience. The Sounds of the Unseen project connected the two worlds to explore the unseen by using something we all can fully experience; sound.

MICROSCOPIC OPERA by MATTHIJS MUNNIK (NL)

The event featured a special performance by Matthijs Munnik, who uses the multicellular organism C.elegans in a way no one has before. The C.elegans, as Matthijs found out, moves just as elegantly as their name implies and was also the first creature to have its entire genome sequenced. Matthijs found a way to translate C.elegans movements into sounds so they seem to sing.

“I wrote special software that tracks the worms, and translates their movements into sounds, making them the unaware performers of the music in the macroscopic world above their heads. While researchers are almost like gods to these helpless worms, controlling them from their first to their last cell division, I hoped to give the worms the power to affect us in our world as well” - MM

Matthijs work was realized in collaboration with the Netherlands consortium for systems biology, and for which he deservedly won the "Designers and artists 4 Genomics" award as it's simply beautiful. It's also a great example of the wonderful possibilities that can come out of science and art collaborations.

INVADER ACE (SE/NO)

Invader Ace are Peder Simonsen (NO) on tuba, electronics and drum machines and Anton Toorell (SE) on vocals, guitar, electronics and no-input mixing board. They transmit their sounds via FM senders to a wall of old tube radios, used as amplification. And it doesn’t just look fantastic; it sounds awesome. Welcome to a new world of tuba-techno-radio-pop. Influences/comparsisons include; Micachu and the Shapes, Deerhoof, Prince Rama and Battles. Their video “Catch Up World” was chosen as the vimeo Staff Pick and it's now on to over 150,000 views.

SONIC LAB SCULPTORS

Thi-Lot (TVde, 29:90), Tona serenad’s Joel Danell (Musette) and John Henriksson (Molnbär av john) are three composers with impeccable music taste that brought together a glorious mix of Delia Derbyshire, Joe Meek, Bruce Haack etc. as well as decorated the gaps between the songs with a whole host of gadgets, instruments and sound toys. They also be created a series of short improvised compositions utilizing scientific equipment and more.